(a) Any person who provides advice, recommendations, or counsel to board members regarding MTA activities and also advises another public or private entity that has a financial interest in an item before the board shall be prohibited from giving advice to board members and MTA staff regarding that item.
(b) This section shall not prohibit an employee of a public agency from providing advice or recommendations to a board member if the item affects their agency generally and does not involve any direct benefit to the public employee.